Apparatus for treating hydrocarbons



Sept. 20, 1932. A. F. CLARKE APPARATUS FOR TREATING HYDROCARBONS Filed June 15. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet i5 Jnumxfot II. F. Clarke,

Patented Sept. 20, 1932 ARTHUR F. CLARKE, OI TULSA, OKLAH OMA; NELL MAY CLARKE EXECUTRIX OF SAID ARTHUR F. CLARKE, DECEASED APPARATUS FOR TREATING HYDROCARBONS Application filed June 15,

This invention relates to apparatus, in which liquids and gaseous fluids are contacted while flowing counter-current to each other, and more particularly to such systems in which hydrocarbon oils and gaseous fluids are processed.

()ne of the primary objects of the present invention is to furnish an apparatus of such character in which the rising gaseous fluid is caused, due to centrifugal action, to whirl on one or more decks covered by a layer or layers of oil, so as to obtain a more intimate contact of the oil and gas undergoing treat ment.

In my apparatus, theoil and gas are given centrifugal motion during the process of conversion, cracking, breaking up, absorption. rectification or the like, this resulting in maximum contact between the oil particles and the gas, and the centrifugal action being created by the upward current of gas passing tangentially through special bubble caps, forming a part of the present invention.

The apparatus of this invention may be employed in breaking hydrocarbons for the purposes of extracting the readily absorbed hydrocarbons from gases, washing the latter, converting or cracking the heavier specific gravity hydrocarbons into hydrocarbons of lighter specific gravity, and carburetting gases by the conversion of hydrocarbons of a heavier specific gravity, into those of a lighter specific gravity. The invention may also be advantageously employed in the rectification of various mixed liquids, including mixtures of hydrocarbons.

In practicing my invention, I utilize in the treating chamber or column, bubble caps designed to convert rising streams of gases, vapors or mixtures thereof, into a multiplicity of horizontally directed tangential streams, which thoroughly agitate the liquids undergoing treatment, and results in the more thorough admixture of gases, vapors and liquid hydrocarbons, than the devices heretofore proposed.

\Vhen my invention is employed for the absorption of hydrocarbons from gases, or for the washing of gases, no heat is required, whereas when it is desired to convert, crack 1928. Serial No. 285,572.

or carburet, heat is required, and may be ad vantageously applied.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system of the above character, in which the materials undergoing treatment are subjected to a suitable catalyst, and for this purpose, the decks or bubble caps, or both, may be formed of catalytic metals or the like.

\Vith the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a vertical diametrieal sectional View of one form of my improved apparatus, especially adapted for use as an absorber, rectifier or the like.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of said apparatus, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a. portion of one of the decks, and one of the bubble caps, the latter being shown partly in elevation, and partly in vertical section, and the deck being shown in vertical section.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View, taken on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in vertical section, of an embodiu'iont of the invention, particularly suitable for carburetting or gas generation.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view, partly in hori zontal section, of the form of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5. I

I will first describe, in each instance, with reference to the drawings, my improved apparatus, and afterwards, disclose the specific process which may be practiced with the apparatus.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 10 designates a column formed of any suitable material, such as metal, and preferably made of tubular units or sections 11 that may be connected together by any suitable means such or rivets 12, passing through angular flanges 13. Of course, any desired number of these units may be assembled to form a column of as bolts v required height, and the units will be of ade- I quate size to take care of the particular operation to be performed.

A deck 14 is located between each adjacent pair of units and this deck may be formed of metal, and provided with series of apertures 15, through which any risin gaseous or vaporous material will pass. ver each series of apertures, I place a bubble cap 16, of special construction, and this feature of the invention is best illustrated in Figs. 3 and- 4. From those figures, it may be seen that each series of apertures may consist of eight (more or less) holes which open upwardly into their respective bubble cap, and the bubble cap comprises an inverted cup of any suitable material, such as metal, having an unobstructed interior and provided with an annular depending skirt 18, that is slotted from its lower edge, to provide a multiplicity of tangentially disposed passageways 19, by which the rising streams of gases are whirled helically and directed horizontally into the liquid which will flow over the decks. The lower edge of each bubble cap rests on the deck, and the cap is held in position by any suitable means, for example, by a screw 20 which passes through a centrally disposed aperture 21 in the head of the cap, and has threads at its lower end which engage a screw threaded port 22 in the deck.

The gaseous fluid enters the apparatus through an inlet port 23 in the bottom unit or chamber, and may be deflected upwardly by a baffle 24. which directs the same through the ports in the lower deck. The gas continues upwardly through the ports 15 1n the other decks, and finally is discharged through the gas outlet 25 at the top of the column.

The oil or other liquid to be processed, enters through an inlet 26 in the top unit, and is deflected downwardly on to the top deck by an angular baffle 27, and will pass across the deck and finally overflow over a weir 28. After passing over the weir, the liquid will travel down a passageway 29, formed between a vertical baffle or partition 30 (or rundown pipe with liquid seal) and the circular wall of the second unit. When the liquid reaches the lower deck and builds up sufiiciently, it will flow over a short weir 31, (or into rundown pipe) and then over a higher weir 32, and will then flow down the passageway 33, formed similar to the passageway 29. On the lower deck, the liquid will flow over weirs 34: and 35, and will enter a passageway 36 which directs it to the lower portion of the apparatus, from which it is discharged by way of outlet 37.

When the apparatus is in use, the gas entering at 23 will be under pressure, and as it flows constantly, this will prevent the oil from flowing downwardly through the ports 15, but if any oil should accidentally reach the upper surface of the baffle 24, it may drain mto the chamber 38, through a port 39.

Suitable man-holes may be provided for each unit, and each of these may have a removable cover 40.

The decks or bubble caps, or both, may be formed of catalytic metal or the like, for example, nickel or aluminum where it is desired to subject the materials undergoing treatment, to catalytic action, and in some instances, a perforated tray 41 containing any desired catalyst, may be arranged in the upper unit, to subject the gaseous stream to catalytic action before it is discharged by way of outlet 25.

The apparatus described is especially useful as an absorber or gas washer, and when used for absorption purposes, the absorbent 011 will be continuously fed in through 26, and the gas carrying entrained vapors, will enter through 23. As the gas is under pressure, 1n passing through the bubble caps, it will be centrifugally whirled, and cause violent agitation of the absorbentoil, and as a number of caps are used on each deck, all portions of each layer of oil will be kept so disturbed that an emulsion or foam will occupy each deck. Owing to this intimacy of contact between the materials treated, the absorbent oil will extract a maximum amount of absorbable vapors from the gas, and the vapor enriched absorbent oil will finally pass into the chamber 38 from which it may be fed through pipe 37 to any suitable form of distllling' apparatus, (not shown), for the purpose of separating the extracted vapors from the absorbent.

If the apparatus is used for washing purposes, the oil entering through 26 will, when it enters passageway 36, contain the impurities washed out of the gas, and from chamber 38, this washed oil may be treated in any desired manner. Assuming that this particular apparatus is used as a rectifier, the parts 23 and 37 should be connected to a still, (not shown), and in such case, the mixed liquid to be rectified, will enter through 26, and flow downwardly in the manner described. Then the gases or Vapors flowing upwardly from the still, wil1 pass through 23, and up the apparatus. The liquid in chamber 38 will then flow back to the still through 37, and the rectified liquid may be withdrawn directly from the still.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 operates on the same general principle as that disclosed in connection with Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, but the apparatus in Figs. 5 and 6 is especially useful fornular cylindrical wall having a dome-sha ed top 52. An annular partition wall 53 of rebrick or the like, is arran ed within the jacket, and is of about oncalf the height of the latter. Between these walls,I arrange an annular chamber or passageway 54, into which opens a plurality of burners 55, fed by pipes 56, with a mixture of air and hydrocarbon oil. An excess amount of oil will be fed to each burner, so as to effect incomplete combustion, and the products of combustion, and the unburnt oil, some of which will be cracked, due to the heat of combustion, will flow upwardly, and on reaching to top of the wall 53, will heat the insulated outer wall 57 of the tower or column. This heated mixture will then flow over the top of the tower and down a central passageway 58, arranged within the same. This passageway may be formed by making the tower of annular shape. In this embodiment of the invention, the decks 14a may be similarto those shown in Fig. 1, but will be of annular, instead of disk-shape. The same type of bubble caps 16a may be also used in this modification, and partitions and weirs 16?), may be employed to lead the liquid overflowing from an upper deck, down to a lower one. Hydrocarbon oil will be fed to the upper deck by a pipe 59, and the gaseous mixture from the passageway 58 will be fed into the column through ports 15a in the lower deck.

Any residuum oil detrained from the material passing down the passageway 58, will enter a hopper 60 which forms the base of the column, and from this hopper, the oil will flow by a pipe 61, into any suitable container 62. Any residue oil from the column which overflows the weir 160, may flow through a passageway 16(l, .into the pipe 61.

In this modification, the decks or bubble caps or tower, may also be formed of catalytic'metal or the like, and it is also a part of my invention, to arrange in the gas chamber 63 or the upper unit of the column, an annular perforated container 64, in which any suitable catalyst may be arranged.

In this form of the apparatus, the combustion is restricted so that further combustion is delayed, and the gases of combustion, as well as the unburnt particles are conducted through the apparatus in direct contact with the liquid hydrocarbons entering through 59; this having the effect of heating, carburetting, reforming, and of cracking and reforming the hydrocarbons. The lighter fractions, (fixed gas) in this embodiment of the invention, are discharged by Way of conduit 65, and may be led to a holder, (not shown). The particular design illustrated, is such as to distribute a fairly uniform heat throughout the desired section of the tower.

In using the apparatus shown in Figs. 5 and 6, for example, air and a combustible where it gives up an additional amount of its heat to the interior of the column. It then passes up through 15a, and the bubble caps 16a on the lower deck, and thoroughly commingles with the downflowing current of the carburetting hydrocarbons entering through 59, and by its sensible heat, has a cracking effect on the carburetting hydrocarbons, changing the liquid hydrocarbons into a gaseous state, and enriching or increasing the heat value of the gas produced by the partial combustion of the oil and air introduced at 56. The enriching oil entering through 59, passes over the first deck, as well as over the bubble ca s of the latter, and due to the violently rushing centrifugal streams of heated gas, it is broken up and put in a foamy condition. The liquid which withstands such treatment, works its way across the deck to the opposite side, and the uncracked, and heavier Be. gravity cracked hydrocarbons which may be condensed or absorbed by the enriching oil, overflows down the passageway 7 O, and on the lower deck, the same action is repeated. Sufiicient decks, fitted with centrifugal bubble caps are used to insure the desired cracking or conversion of the downward flowing hydrocarbons, and the residue will overflow through passagewa 16d, into the container or the like 62.

s heretofore mentioned, when it is desired to subject the materials undergoing treatment, to catalytic action, such action may take place on the decks, or when the gases pass through a catalyst contained in the perforated chamber 64.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, and operation of my apparatus, and the manner of practicing the process may be clearlyunderstood, and I am aware that changes may be made in the details disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the in vention as expressed in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the character described, including a perforated deck member, a bubble cap member mounted on the deck member, at least one of said members being formed of catalytic material.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a deck provided with a series of ports, an inverted hollow cup-shaped cap having its lower edge resting on the deck and surrounding said series of ports, said edge being provided with a series of substantially tangentially arranged notches forming passageways adapted to whirl a gaseous substance travelling from said ports through the cap and passageways to a destination above the deck, and means for fixedly securing the cap to the deck, said ports being spaced radially from the last mentioned means and the interior of the cap being unobstructed between said means and said notches.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a deck provided with a series of relatively small ports, an inverted hollow cupshaped cap having its lower edge resting on the deck and surrounding said series of ports, the lower edge portion of the cap being relatively thick and of cylindrical formation, and being provided with a series of substan tially tangentially ar 'anged notches forming passageways adapted to whirl a gaseous substance trm'elling'from said ports through the cap and passageways to a destination above the deck, and means for detachably securing the cap to the deck, said ports being spaced radially from the last mentioned means and the interior of the cap being unobstructed between said means and said notches.

4. In an apnaratus of the character described, a fiat deck provided with a series of ports and a threaded aperture, an inverted stationary cap having its lower edge resting on the deck and surrounding said series of ports, said cap being provided with a series of substantially tangentially arranged passageways, and a screw passing through the central portion of the cap and having threads engaging the threads of the aperture for detachably connecting the cap to the deck, said screw forming the only obstruction within the cap.

ARTHUR F. CLARKE. 

